Smollensky's on the Strand

Attended with my wife for a pre theatre meal. We arrived in good time and at first had a drink at the bar which proved difficult owing to the bar staff not understanding the word PERNOD.

We sat in the restaurant in good time but were ignored time and time again in preference to those seated after us. I complained to the guy doing the seatings and straightaway we were served. We then waited an age for the starter and even longer for the mains. During this time we saw meal after meal being returned due to the wrong order being delivered. We then sensed much agitatiion on the main floor and then all of a sudden a male jumped up and shouted out loud about the very poor service, this was met with much loud agreement from most of the tables including ours. This then led to a number of diners leaving without paying.

I then asked for my bill and after 20mins it had not arrived so my wife and I scrapped our cash together and paid a lot less than the overall cost of the meal and drinks.

What a pity as the food was not that bad although a little expensive for what it was.

Would I recommend it - no. But if you must go then allow plenty of time especially if you have theatre tickets..!!
Comment on this reader review

Brian Thomas
4 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 4
Tuesday, August 17, 2010

I have to agree that Its more about the hype and image behind Smollensky's? Spending a beautiful day with my family we found ourselves on The strand and was promptly greeted by a cow handing out flyers about 'kids weekend' at Smollensky's. Great I thought having never eaten at this restaurant and constantly being told how good they are it didn't take much persuading.

First impressions last, at least thats what they say... we had to wait to be greeted by the hostess who then asked us if we had a booking, I was under the impression there was no need to book according to 'the cow' at least, okay, scanning the restaurant which was 1/4 full full she said she'd see what she could do and came back in two minutes to escort us to out table, I should add that at this point at least the kids were given menus and pencils which defeats the purpose if thats what they mean by colouring pack...

We waited 20 minutes until and still no one approached us to take our order...They had a children's entertainer and while others who had been there longer were being informed we were not. Not a child friendly restaurant at all. The food around us looked great suffice to say we never got to sample it as we left. Half an hour is to long to wait...
Comment on this reader review

G McNamee - View all reviews by this user
1 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Sunday, August 15, 2010

We were a party of 2 adults and one 7 year old. We were looking forward to our 1st meal at Smollenskys but were a bit let down. We were the 1st (and only for about 30 minutes) people in at 12 noon lunch. Our waitress had a problem understanding English and thus got our order wrong, forgot 2 items which had to be deducted from our final tab, and not once smlied, said sorry for her mistakes, and didn't even come to get our money (so we took it to her and she didn't give us change or say one word to us when we asked if we could pay). This and a 12.5% service charge very much undeserved. We were her first customers so strange how she acted as if she had been there all day and was tired of working. We weren't demanding or loud in any way, yet she just had an air of not wanting to be a waitress. I will give full marks to the chef, he was brilliant and cooked everything well. The service means we'll never return and will tell our friends to avoid like the plague. Go to TGIF's nearby for super service and better food.
Comment on this reader review

Upton Family
4 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 7
Friday, July 30, 2010

I really like Smollensky's, both as a cocktail bar and a restaurant. The cocktail waiters are friendly and professional, and they make a mean vodka martini.

The food is good, doesn't take too long to arrive and isn't too expensive.

One black mark though - Smollensky's is the only place where I've ordered a vodka martini and been served ice water with a hint of vermouth with a lime twist. I kid you not, the waiter had forgotten to pour the vodka into the shaker.

I did point this out to him, but he denied that he'd forgotten the vodka, and claimed that it was simply very smooth.

I have drunk literally hundreds of vodka martinis in my time, and this was the most dramatically different martini I'd ever experienced. I can assure the reader that there wasn't the slightest trace of vodka in it.

Since I was celebrating my birthday and I wasn't inclined to cause a fuss, I just left it and ordered another one, which was fine. I'm sure it was an honest mistake on the waiter's part.
Comment on this reader review

James
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Saturday, July 10, 2010

Dinner 08.07.10

The good:

-we got to choose where to sit as it was empty

-friendly waiter

The bad:

-no host so stood at the host stand for several minutes before being seated

-no lime, lemon or any garnish in a £7.20 grey goose and tonic

-rude bar staff when I walked over and asked for a lemon

- food very average

-sneaky cocktails menu as liquor prices are quoted as prices 'from' with only the cheapest price of each liquor posted.
Comment on this reader review

toby
4 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 4
Friday, July 09, 2010

Good service, good beer and decent food . Good decor and comfy leather seats .

We went to watch a world cup match on the big screen but we were also tempted to try a burger , which was very good , as was the Stella Artois !. No complaints from us .

Would definitely return to try something else from the menu if not just for a good pint !.
Comment on this reader review

Captain - View all reviews by this user
6 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Lots of hype, but the reality is somewhat mixed.

Food was somewhat disappointing. This is one of those places that seems to do a few things very well but struggles with the rest of its own menu. My food came out a bit dry and overcooked.

Otherwise, everything else is fine. Service is great. Very polite. Atmosphere... a bit loud, but not too deafening. I thought the bill was a bit steep, but they do have a (bit of) a name to speak of, so one can't really complain.

I was hoping for a more polished experience, but this was a bit rough around the edges.
Comment on this reader review

Alan Ingham - View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Monday, June 07, 2010

Service was good. Waitress was attentive and polite. Surprised to read other comments about poor service. Starters (salad, chicken wings, calamari) all fine. Main course of surf and turf disgusting. It's 24 hours on and I can still taste the one prawn I ate. Steak was overcooked despite the flag in it that said 'medium rare'. Disappointing.

Value is OK but you need the 50% off food deal for it to be worthwhile.
Comment on this reader review

George
5 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 6
Friday, February 05, 2010

Last night, I went to Smollensky’s Bar and Grill with two friends for the pre theatre dinner. After being in Smollenskys for after work drinks and thinking it had a nice atmosphere to it and thinking the food looked nice, I was looking forward to an evening of good food and entertainment.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed. The service and food at Smollensky’s was appalling; we waited an hour for our starter to arrive and when it did, the soup was served with no bread, the fishcakes tasted stale and the salad was a few lettuce leaves covered in dressing. The dinner took a further 45 minutes to arrive. The pasta arrived with no chicken, tomato or mushroom, just pasta and cream sauce. And due to the late arrival of the food, we had no time to complain as the show was about to start and we had to leave. We tried to gain the attention of several waitresses and waiters on four occasions. On all four occasions, we were looked at and ignored. It wasn’t until we got up to leave, that a waitress came to us, for us to pay for the wine; as the meal had already been paid for online. The cheek of it, she slapped on a service charge!

The service was appalling and we were treated like we didn’t matter. The food was just as inedible. As for value of money, I would have been better going to McDonalds. Don’t get me wrong, I know there are always occasional hiccups in restaurants but we weren’t the only table with the same complaints!

On a good note, the toilets were clean and the musical of Legally Blonde was outstanding.

I certainly won’t be going back to Smollensky’s and I won’t recommend the place to anyone!
Comment on this reader review

Charlotte Davis
2 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Friday, January 22, 2010

I was there with my partner on 24/11/09, for pre-meal dinner and drinks. The place was great, staff were very friendly, food was good price as it was on offer in line with the theatre we were going to.

All was good apart from perhaps the pasta could have done with a little more ingredients, but I had a fab night there and I would go back.

Don't knock it until you've tried it!!
Comment on this reader review

Cath
9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, November 26, 2009